Free tickets to SPCO children's programs offered

Here's a deal with strings attached. Free tickets to the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra's children's concerts are available starting this week.

The SPCO offers several informal family programs to introduce kids to classical music. "Start the Music! Brilliant Brass" on Oct. 12 and 26 includes a half hour of activities and a half-hour concert with some of the orchestra's brass players. The SPCO also presents a narrated introduction to classical music for elementary-age kids on Nov. 16 called "xplorchestra!" and a family concert with the full orchestra on Oct. 5.

The orchestra this year dropped its system of distributing free tickets by lottery.

"If people don't get a ticket, they should check back the week before the concert," said orchestra spokeswoman Kelly Belich. The concerts are subsidized by Target, but the orchestra also encourages people to donate. -- Maja Beckstrom